(By Delegates Caputo, Ferro and Skaff)
[Introduced March 21, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources then Finance.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §20-7-1a and §20-7-1c of the Code of
West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to providing an
increase in compensation for natural resources police
officers.Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §20-7-1a and §20-7-1c of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:ARTICLE 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOTORBOATING, LITTER.§20-7-1a. Natural resources police officer salary increase based
on length of service.
(a) Effective July 1, 2002, each natural resources police
officer shall receive and be entitled to an increase in salary
based on length of service, including that heretofore and hereafter
served as a natural resources police officer as follows: For five years of service with the division, a natural resources police
officer shall receive a salary increase of $600 per year payable
during his or her next three years of service and a like increase
at three-year intervals thereafter, with these increases to be
cumulative.Each natural resources police officer whose salary is
fixed and specified pursuant to section one-c of this article shall
receive, and is entitled to, an increase in salary over that set
forth in section one-c of this article, for grade in rank, based on
length of service, including that service served before and after
the effective date of this section as a natural resources police
officer as follows: At the end of two years of service as a
natural resources police officer, the officer shall receive a
salary increase of $400 to be effective during his or her next year
of service and a like increase at yearly intervals thereafter, with
the increases to be cumulative. A salary increase shall be based
upon years of service as of July 1 of each year and may not be
recalculated until July 1 of the following year.ConservationNatural resources police officers in service at
the time the amendment to this section becomes effective shall be
given credit for prior service and shall be paid salaries as the
same length of service will entitle them to receive under the
provisions hereof.
(b) This section does not apply to special or emergency
natural resources police officers appointed under the authority of section one of this article.§20-7-1c. Natural resources police officer, ranks, salary
schedule, base pay, exceptions.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the
contrary, the ranks within the law-enforcement section of the
Division of Natural Resources are colonel, lieutenant colonel,
major, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, corporal, natural resources
police officer first class, senior natural resources police
officer, natural resources police officer and natural resources
police officer-in-training. Each officer while in uniform shall
wear the insignia of rank as provided by the chief natural
resources police officer.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2011, natural
resources police officers shall be paid the minimum annual salaries
based on the following schedule:

Natural Resources Police Officer(In 1-6 months)............$33,994
Natural Resources Police Officer (After Academy Through First
Year).....................................................$41,258
Natural Resources Police Officer Second Year..............$42,266
Natural Resources Police Officer Third Year ...............$42,649
Senior Natural Resources Police Officer (4th - 5th Year). ....$43,048
Natural Resources Police Officer First Class (6th - 9th Year).$43,654
Corporal (10+ years)......................................$44,260
Sergeant .................................................$48,561
First Sergeant............................................$50,712
Lieutenant ...............................................$52,862
Captain...................................................$57,164
Major.....................................................$59,314
Lieutenant Colonel .......................................$61,465
Colonel ..................................................$70,000Each natural resources police officer whose salary is fixed
and specified in this annual salary schedule is entitled to the
length of service increases set forth in subsection one-a of this
article.
___Natural resources police officers in service at the time the
amendment to this section becomes effectiveIn applying the salary
schedules set forth in this section where salary increases are
provided for length of service, natural resources police officers
in service at the time the schedules become effective shall be
given credit for prior service and shall be paid salaries the same
length of service entitles them to receive under the provisions of
this section.
(c) This section does not apply to special or emergency
natural resources police officers appointed under the authority of section one of this article.
(d) Nothing in this section prohibits other pay increases as
provided under section two, article five, chapter five of this
code: Provided, That any across-the-board pay increase granted by
the Legislature or the Governor will be added to, and reflected in,
the minimum salaries set forth in this section; and that any merit
increases granted to an officer over and above the annual salary
schedule listed in subsection (b) of this section are retained by
an officer when he or she advances from one rank to another:
Provided, however, That any natural resources police officer who
receives an increase in compensation pursuant to the amendment and
reenactment of this section in 2011 shall not receive any across-
the-board pay increase granted by the Legislature or the Governor
in 2011.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide an increase in
compensation for Natural Resources Police officers.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.